Therapies
Adult and Pediatric Rehabilitation Therapies to Help You Recover
We’ve got you covered for every type of condition that requires rehabilitation as part of your recovery. With services geared toward both children (ages 0-16) and adults, we provide physical, occupational and speech therapy—along with specialized cancer and amputee programs as well as electrodiagnostic medicine for neuromuscular conditions. Best of all, we are where you are—we have more than a dozen outpatient locations throughout Northeast Ohio. Call 216-778-4414 to make an appointment.
Physical Therapy
Our highly skilled physical therapists treat a variety of conditions, from the common to the complex. Many of our therapists have advanced training in orthopaedics, sports medicine, the McKenzie Method and more. We have designated neurologic gyms at our Old Brooklyn Center and State Road locations.
We treat patients with:
- Amputations
- Back/neck pain
- Bariatric post-op care
- Brain injury
- Hand/elbow/shoulder injuries
- Industrial injuries
- Lymphedema
- Pediatric development concerns
- Pelvic floor
- Spinal cord injury
- Sports injuries
- Stroke
- Swallowing problems
- Total joint and hip/knee/ankle
- Vestibular therapy/dizziness
Occupational Therapy
Our occupational therapists are experts at helping individuals preserve the function of their bodies. Whether that involves walking, dressing, eating or socializing, our team works with you to maximize your function and independence in daily living skills.
We treat patients with:
- Autism/pervasive developmental disorders
- Brain injury
- Burns
- Chronic neurological, movement and developmental disorders
- Cognitive impairments
- Feeding and sensory processing issues
- Fractures
- Nerve injuries
- Physical, cognitive and sensory skills
- Spinal cord injuries
- Stroke
- Tendon injuries
- Vision or vestibular dysfunction
Speech and Language Therapy
MetroHealth’s board-certified speech-language pathologists treat a variety of disorders that impair the understanding or use of language. Patients may be recovering from stroke or brain injury, or living with a neurological condition like multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease. Others may have a voice disorder, muscle weakness or apraxia of speech. Our speech therapists help patients regain cognitive abilities that allow them to once again engage and connect with the world.
We treat patients with:
- Cleft lip/palate
- Concussion
- Conditions such as autism, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, etc.
- Developmental concerns
- Gender-affirming voice changes
- Head and neck cancer
- Lymphedema
- Neurodegenerative diseases
- Spinal cord injury
- Stroke
- Swallowing difficulties
- Traumatic brain injury
- Voice changes/pathologies
Pediatric Services: Care for Our Littlest Patients
We offer pediatric services—infants through adolescents—at several of our outpatient locations around Greater Cleveland. When you call for an appointment, our intake specialists will guide you toward a location near you with the pediatric therapy services you need.
Physical Therapy
- Developmental delays
- Conditions such as cerebral palsy, torticollis, spina bifida, Down syndrome, etc.
We have a Pediatric Clinical Specialist on staff, plus physical therapists certified in both infant massage and equipment assessment.
Occupational Therapy
- Physical, cognitive and sensory skills
- Autism/pervasive developmental disorders
- Cerebral palsy and other chronic neurological, movement and developmental disorders
- Feeding and sensory processing issues
Speech Therapy
- Developmental concerns impacting speech, language, social communication and swallowing
- Conditions such as autism, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, etc.
Cancer Rehabilitation
Our cancer rehabilitation physicians and therapists evaluate the needs of our cancer patients and cancer survivors to develop personalized rehabilitation programs from the time of diagnosis through survivorship and beyond.
Types of Cancer Rehabilitation Services
- Physical therapy and interventional injections to manage pain and neurological changes caused by spinal tumors
- Speech and swallowing therapy for head and neck cancer patients
- Protocol for all surgical breast cancer patients to see a cancer rehabilitation physician and a physical or occupational therapist
Amputee Rehabilitation
Our amputee rehabilitation program serves patients who have undergone amputation of upper or lower limbs resulting from trauma or disease.
Interdisciplinary team:
Our team includes Physical Medicine & Research specialists, physical therapists specially trained for lower limb amputation, occupational and hand therapists trained for upper limb amputation, prosthetists and rehabilitation psychologists.
Post-surgery care:
We coordinate with trauma, orthopaedic and vascular surgeons to anticipate and address postoperative complications and rehabilitation.
Comprehensive care:
Our program features a modern inpatient rehabilitation facility and several locations for outpatient services as patients progress with their recovery.
Getting You Back to What Matters
- Driver Rehabilitation
- Benjamin S. Gerson Family Resource Center
- Wheelchair Clinic
- Adaptive Life Technologies Lab
- Vocational Services
Driver Rehabilitation
Driving involves fine motor skills, and driving in crowded situations can mean making dozens of fast decisions, all at once. Our Driver Rehabilitation Program helps you work on your driving skills as you work through an injury or an illness. Our staff works closely with each patient to work toward independence.
Once you enroll, our occupational therapist evaluates you to determine how well you’re driving behind the wheel on public roads. Then, we’ll develop a plan to improve your driving ability, such as hand controls, wheelchair adaptations, physical therapy, etc.
To schedule an appointment, call 216-778-4414.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who performs the evaluations?
All services are provided by a MetroHealth occupational therapist who is also a Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist, licensed by the Ohio Department of Public Safety as a driving instructor for persons with disabilities.
What if training is necessary?
The Driver Rehabilitation Specialist provides an individualized plan for on-road, behind-the-wheel training or rehabilitation to address problem areas identified during the evaluation. The therapist may also train the driver how to use adaptive equipment to ensure that a person has the skills needed to operate a vehicle safely and effectively, including modified vehicles. This process occurs in a training vehicle provided by The Driver Rehabilitation Program. Vehicle modifications may be recommended—these could include changes to the accelerator, brake or steering control devices, wheelchair or scooter handling options, etc.
What is required to participate in the training?
Participants must meet the following criteria before scheduling an appointment:
- 16 years and older
- Possess a valid (not suspended or expired) driver’s license or temporary permit
- Seizure-free for the last year
- Physician referral or prescription for an Occupational Therapy Driver Evaluation and Rehabilitation program (medical history required)
Is this program covered by insurance?
All insurance policies are different. We will work with the patients to verify if services are covered, determine payment options and/or assist with alternate funding sources.
Benjamin S. Gerson Family Resource Center
The MetroHealth Benjamin S. Gerson Family Resource Center connects you with community resources after a trauma or illness puts your life on hold. The hope is that once these connections are in place, you’ll have the rehabilitation services, knowledge and support needed to get back to your life. We offer this assistance free of charge.
Who We Serve
The Benjamin S. Gerson Family Resource Center serves individuals and their families. We often work with people who have spinal cord injury, stroke, brain injury and orthopedic disabilities.
Assessment
Our certified rehabilitation counselor meets with you and your family for an initial needs assessment. That conversation helps us determine what resources might be helpful for you, including:
- Home health aides and respite care
- Housing and transportation
- Medical equipment
- Mental health and substance abuse treatment
- Preventive care
- Recreation and wellness
- Support groups
- Vocational services
Get Started
While many people are referred to us by their physicians, social workers or therapists, you don’t need a referral. Call 216-778-2388 to make an appointment, or toll-free 866-339-9775.
Support Groups
The Benjamin S. Gerson Family Center hosts Support Trauma and Recovery (STAR). This support group is for people who have experienced physical trauma such as amputation, spinal cord injury, stroke and brain injury.
Our Namesake
The Benjamin S. Gerson Family Resource Center was dedicated in 2004, thanks to the generosity of Mr. Gerson’s children. Mr. Gerson was diagnosed with polio in 1953 and received care at MetroHealth Medical Center. He felt this care allowed him to return to a productive life after his diagnosis, and his children chose to honor his recovery by opening the center.
Wheelchair Clinic
MetroHealth’s Wheelchair and Seating Clinic assists people of all ages, no matter the diagnosis. People come to us due to spinal cord or brain injuries, diseases like multiple sclerosis, or trouble using a walker without falling. Others may be receiving stroke rehab, trauma rehabilitation or amputee therapy.
How It Works
- We perform a physical therapy evaluation, take measurements and ask about your daily activities.
- We work with certified wheelchair vendors. There is always one present at the clinic to make recommendations and allow you to test-drive different models.
- Our team helps you with the insurance paperwork required to cover the cost of your chair.
- After you select and receive your wheelchair, our vendor conducts a home visit to make sure your equipment works for you there.
The clinic is led by an experienced physical therapist who is also a certified assistive technology provider. To learn more about our wheelchair clinic, call 216-778-4414.
Adaptive Life Technologies Lab
The MetroHealth Adaptive Life Technologies (ALT) Lab connects people living with life-altering disabilities, such as spinal cord injury (SCI), to technologies that help improve function and independence throughout their home and greater community.
The ALT Lab gives patients access to a wide variety of technologies to meet clinical goals beyond those typically targeted in traditional rehabilitation—goals like home automation, environmental control, computer access, returning to work, outdoor mobility and even gaming. While there are a handful of similar labs throughout the country, the ALT Lab is the only one led by individuals living with SCI. It’s also one of the few that collaborates directly with multiple community organizations to bring these technologies to life in the homes of its recipients.
How It Works
Our current focus is on promoting clinically-guided, peer-informed and community-collaborative assistive technologies.
Vocational Services
Returning to a productive life—at home, in the community and as part of the workforce—is a critical part of your rehabilitation after a serious injury, illness or disability. The Vocational Services program at the MetroHealth Rehabilitation Institute is here to support you as you reintegrate back into life. Our certified rehabilitation counselors provide several key services:
Rehabilitation Counseling
Get support learning to:
- Adjust to life after an injury, disability or worsening health condition
- Find new interventions to maximize mobility and functionality
- Identify realistic goals
- Develop plans for working personal, independent living and employment goals
Support Groups
Connect to job opportunities with services like:
- Vocational assessment: academic skills, aptitudes, capabilities and interests
- Career exploration and career counseling
- Academic counseling
- Job analysis and readiness
- Job search training: interview techniques, resume development, job applications, etc.
- Job coaching: on-site assistance learning job responsibilities, functions and capabilities
Benefits Assistance & Community Resources
Navigate other areas of your life with:
- Benefits analysis and consultation
- Referrals to state-funded programs for extra funding or support
- Referrals to community resources
- Recommendations for transportation, adaptive equipment, and workstation modifications to mitigate barriers to employment
Our services are self-pay, though we will work with you to verify if your insurance provides any level of coverage.
Payment plan options are available.
Electrodiagnostic Medicine
Electrodiagnostic medicine enables our clinicians to hone in on the severity of neurologic and neuromuscular conditions.
Common conditions:
Some of the more common conditions we assess include carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetic polyneuropathy, entrapment neuropathy, radiculopathies, myasthenia gravis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, polymyositis and muscular dystrophies.
Specialized staff and services:
Our staff includes board-certified electromyographers and a staff of electromyography (EMG) technicians. Our state-of-the-art technology can instantly and automatically upload test results to the electronic medical record.
Multiple locations:
EMG services are available at The MetroHealth Glick Center as well as at five satellite locations in the community.
Convenient, Accessible Location
With more than a dozen outpatient facilities throughout Greater Cleveland, we make it easy to get the rehabilitation care you need. Locations are conveniently located in the communities where our patients live and work.
